Rigor in Your Classroom

Dr. Barbara R. Blackburn, a Top 10 Global Guru in Education, is the bestselling author of over 30 books and is a sought-after national and international consultant. She was an award-winning professor at Winthrop University and has taught early childhood, elementary, middle, and high school students.

"While reading Rigor in the Classroom, I was struck by how many scenarios (especially in chapter 2) Barbara described that I see almost daily in my schools. Rigor in the Classroom describes almost three hundred tools that can be used to help support rigorous learning. During walkthroughs, observations and lesson plan reviews, administrators can use these tools as suggestions to teachers. This book was a quick, easy read useful text." —Lois Bohm, Supervisor of English/District Test Coordinator, Hillside Public Schools, NJ"Once again, Barbara Blackburn offers hundreds of strategies, tools, and content-specific examples to support actions educators can take when they have high—and rigorous—learning expectations for every student. Not only a rich resource for classroom teachers, Blackburn provides a blueprint for the many ways school leaders can support teachers and address common concerns, such as students with special needs and communicating with parents."—Dr. Karin Hess, President, Educational Research in Action, LLC "This is a must read for all teachers—and for those who lead and support teachers! In Rigor in Your Classroom: A Toolkit for Teachers, Dr. Blackburn continues to deliver practical, yet powerful "keys" for unlocking more rigorous learning experiences for all learners in spite of their zip code, label, or background. She starts by boldly dispelling the common myths that serve as barriers to RIGOR to ensure educators have greater clarity and far greater precision in designing lessons that require students to think and perform at higher levels. Specifically, the toolkit includes a fresh look at a myriad of strategies for reckoning with our own belief system (the foundation for it all) and for engaging and lifting learning for all students to ensure more equitable outcomes. This text will leave educators feeling hopeful and empowered due to its arsenal of resources: from reflection questions and rubrics and frameworks to tangible examples and practical processes that can be implemented at the classroom level and school-wide level. This text truly answers the "what," "why," and "how" for educators!"—Ebony T. Lee, PhD, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Clayton County Public Schools, and Author of the WriteVoice Toolkit"If you want to increase rigor, engagement, and understanding in your classroom, you need to read Rigor in Your Classroom: A Toolkit for Teachers by Barbara R. Blackburn. This book is a treasure trove of practical and effective ideas for meeting the diverse needs of your students. You will find more than 250 strategies for differentiating instruction, scaffolding learning, and assessing progress. This book is not just a collection of tips, but a comprehensive guide for creating a rigorous and engaging learning environment."—Steven Miletto, Executive Director, North Georgia RESA

• Acknowledgements Meet the Author Introduction 1. Understanding Rigor 2. Raising Expectations Through Questioning and Adult Behaviors 3. Raising Expectations Through Complex Tasks 4. Increasing Depth of Instruction Chapter 5. Giving Scaffolding and Support 6. Options for Assessment 7. Reinvigorating the Environment 8. Common Concerns 9. Leading Rigor in Your School References